Don't feed the homeless.

What seems to be forgotten in this discussion are ones who will never dig themselves "out of poverty" for whatever reason.(addiction, mental illness, etc)

What does a responsible society do with those people. Let them die of starvation in the park?

Christ said we'll always have those who are poor. So whether we like it or not, we better find ways of dealing them. Attacking one another over differing views isn't constructive.

 

There is a huge difference between one who is economically poor, and one who is poor on their own account.

Had one man come into a church and demand that the pastor give him money. The pastor through him out the door and said, "You do not make demands. You may ask for assistance. You may ask for work, but you don't demand."

I agree with that principle. If a man came to me and was hungry, I might very well take him to a restaurant and buy him a meal, but I may not give him cash. There is a difference.

Cheers,

Jim

 

So Jim, does that mean we should judge those we help by their humbleness?

(thank God that He didn't judge me by mine )

 

We are living in a far different society than in biblical times, and yes, we are to use our brains in determining the difference between need and greed or laziness.

I give breaks to the woman who rents a house I own in town. She does not demand things. I do what I do on my own volition, such as reducing her rent for the summer months and responding quickly when there is a problem. I believe I am acting within the principles of the New Testament.

On the other hand, I see far too many welfareites in town and I wouldn't give a dime to them. They already steal enough from society. For example, many moved to Tamworth because they don't owna vehicle and therefore can't look for a job. They moved from a city where many jobs are available. If they are offered a temporary job, they demand $20.00 per hour! A bit much, I think, given the circumstances.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jim, I see people, good people with hardworking backgrounds & educations who were thrown out of work in this economy unable to find work because they either made too much (according to todays excuse mill) or are too educated or too old from early 40's to 60's. In each case, these folks are at the point there just looking for any job & finding little or nothing. They have mortgages (sometimes now under water) & the banks refuse to refinance & so take advantage. What do you do with these people? Their savings has been taken from them with 401K losses & living on savings that they would have normally have parked for retirement but now do to the economy, have depleted to live. What do you do with these people? So you can guess by now that they are the "New" Poor & you will be meeting them in the welfare & food stamps lines, if not now then soon.

 

Ah, I see what you mean Jim, but the OP isn't discussing people who are in the system and basically welshing, but people who are homeless and living in a park. The only system they are "welshing" from is the organizations that provide them a meal. Most of these people have been through the system or fell through the cracks of the system and cannot (or will not) be helped by it. Should we just let them starve because we don't want them in our parks? Out of sight often means out of mind.

We like to say: Well if they would only ________, then we would help. But is that what Christ calls us to do? Only help those who want to help themselves?

 

We have a system in Canada, quite different to the USA. There is no excuse here.

Yes, I will help people and do. The good Samaritan is our example, isn't he.

The news says that the average American has 8 credit cards maxed out,,,,,and then the system falls into problems. If that news report is accurate,,and I say, if, where were these people acting responsibly before the financial crisis?

The money market collapsed in 1928-29...Many greedy people paid the price and many less fortunate people ended up in absolute poverty. We must discern the difference to act responsively in biblical terms.

I too am responsible to God for my monies. It is not a question that I happen to have money, but that I am responsible on how I dispose of it.

During the war in England, even people with money used the same cards for spending money. Some even abused that system and used their money to cheat. We stuck to the ration book. During the London bombing, we did well to eat meals three times a week. That was 7 months of day and night bombing where 30,000 of our neighbours died. So, I am quite familiar with hard times.

Please note that I do distinguish between the different people. Some even choose to be homeless, at least here in Canada.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Yes, Gina. You're right. I should just walk away from a person like you. I can only hope that one day, you will repent of your behavior before it's too late.

 

>unlike to-day where there are plenty of places to find food and handouts, I was talking about the years we had nothing, including jobs. During the war years, we did well to have 3-4 meals a week.

Where did you spend the war years? In the war zone?

One BIG problem with do-gooder feeding programs in a public park is the trash problem.

 

Yes, billwald. I lived in East London. We lost three homes in that period to bombs. We lived half the time in the tube. German planes were so close we could actually see the pilots.

We survived!

Cheers,

Jim

 

>Yes, billwald. I lived in East London. We lost three homes in that period to bombs. We lived half the time in the tube. German planes were so close we could actually see the pilots.

Not many people who remember those dark days. In the US we didn't miss any meals because of the war but my parents lived through the depression. My kids and grandkids have never seen a day of hard times and thing Vietnam was ancient history. I think they will catch on fast enough when this new depression sets in hard.

 

I hesitate to even get started on this topic. I believe what my Mother taught me years ago...."God helps those who help themselves" still is a good saying....she was a child of the depression.

We have a "homeless" shelter here that is open from November until April each year to provide shelter and a meal so that they don't freeze and/or starve in the Colorado winter weather.

The problem that some of us see is this: before they had this shelter, the homeless disappeared during the winter. Family members came and took them home in many cases.

Now they stay here! We have had more freeze to death (alcohol, hair spray, mouthwash doesn't stop someone from freezing) since the shelter was built than the years before. Some were waiting for the shelter to open and just passed out where they were, then froze to death.

Sad...but you cannot make people stop drinking or abusing themselves, they have to WANT to be different.

We NEVER give these people money. They take it right down and buy more substance to abuse themselves with. Drug of choice? They take hairspray and mix it with water and call it "ocean water".

 

This is exacly the sort of people I was speaking of. So do we feed them or do we let them suffer the consequences of their own decisions?

 

After so many times of helping a person who doesn't want to be helped then perhaps its time to say, "no more." The hope is that they become as the prodigal son and become so desperate and hungry that they consider changing their ways. Digging for food in a dumpster has a way of waking some folks up.

 

OK so what do with the people who have fallen on hard times? Not the bums & drunks & drug addicts!

 

I am afraid is somewhat like two people drowning in a river. You can't save both. Which one do you save?

Cheers,

Jim